Manatee coach inquiry now in state attorney's hands

Published: Friday, March 8, 2013 at 11:46 p.m.

Last Modified: Friday, March 8, 2013 at 11:46 p.m.

BRADENTON - The criminal investigation into misconduct allegations leveled against Manatee High School assistant football coach Rod Frazier is closed and is now in the hands of the State Attorney's Office, which will decide whether to file charges.

Frazier, who also works as a parent liaison at the school, was placed on paid leave Feb. 8, a day after Bradenton police launched an investigation.

A Manatee High alumnus who went on to play football for the University of Florida, he has declined comment. His attorney, Edwin Mulock, said Friday that Frazier is the subject of a "witch hunt."

The police began investigating after allegations surfaced that Frazier had groped a girl, sent inappropriate text messages to students and was seen with girls sitting in his lap in his office at school.

Among those who spoke to police are Barclay and Margaret Kirkland, Bradenton dentists who said they saw Frazier acting inappropriately at Manatee High weightlifting meets. Margaret Kirkland is an accomplished weightlifter who owns a number of world records.

The Kirklands said it was common to see Frazier, who coached the weightlifting team from 2006-2010, rubbing up against girls on the team during meets.

"This was not only pressing your body, but it was stroking some girl," Barclay Kirkland said. "It was constantly. It was all the time."

"Everyone witnessed it," Margaret Kirkland said. "Everyone saw it. We would make comments to each other. We went to all the meets and we saw how he acted there and thought, 'Wow.'"

Barclay Kirkland said he is allowing his name to be made public even though he thinks there will be a price — "consequences that you'll never even know."

"I guarantee you there are people who won't come here if our name was put in the paper against Frazier. There's no question about that," he said. "But a person has to stand up for what's right. We're not talking about someone touching a girl one time. We're talking about a continued-for-years culture and the surrounding people — and the people above — were all supporting this or ignoring this, however you want to say it."

Frazier's attorney said Friday that Frazier did not speak directly to detectives.

"It's all rumors and innuendos and little young high school girls going off on the social media with rumors and so forth," Mulock said. "I haven't heard anything criminal."

Radzilowski said it should take about two weeks for the State Attorney's Office to review the case and decide whether to file charges.

The chief also said that the police could be asked by the state to circle back to certain witnesses.

The school district began an internal investigation through its Office of Professional Standards in November.

That same day, district investigator Debra Horne interviewed a half-dozen employees about reports that Frazier had inappropriate interactions with at least four female students.

Frazier returned to work on Nov. 16, reportedly before Horne had interviewed any students or parents, and coached a playoff game against St. Petersburg Northeast that night.

The district revisited the case on Jan. 9, when the mother of a female student delivered a letter to the office of Manatee High Principal Don Sauer alleging inappropriate behavior by Frazier.

In the letter, the girl said that Frazier had groped her upper thigh and buttocks, asked her to send him nude pictures of her, frequently texted her and met her in a park at night.

The Herald-Tribune is not identifying the girl because of the nature of the allegations.

The girl's mother said that she has no regrets about coming forward to the school district and the police.

"This needs to be dealt with. It needs to be stopped," she said. "It needs to be brought to the forefront."

It does not appear that anyone from the school district called the state abuse hotline or the police about the allegations, as required by law when employees suspect sexual contact.

Horne requested a transfer to an assistant principal position in late January, and assistant superintendent Scott Martin took over the investigation.

Bradenton police launched their investigation Feb. 7 — prompted, Radzilowski said, by a Herald-Tribune story about the allegations against Frazier. The State Attorney's Office Crimes Against Children unit joined the investigation soon after. Manatee school administrators again put Frazier on paid leave on Feb. 8.

School Board Chairwoman Karen Carpenter released a statement that day, asking the public to "reserve judgment until all of the facts are known and the investigation is complete."

Radzilowski could not say Friday whether the State Attorney's Office would pursue district employees who may have violated mandated reporting laws.

"If there are no violations," he said, "then the School Board can look and see if there are any actions they deem inappropriate."

<p><em>BRADENTON</em> - The criminal investigation into misconduct allegations leveled against Manatee High School assistant football coach Rod Frazier is closed and is now in the hands of the State Attorney's Office, which will decide whether to file charges.</p><p>Bradenton Police Chief Michael Radzilowski said detectives met Friday with prosecutors to discuss the investigation.</p><p>Chief Radzilowski said more than 50 people were interviewed as part of the investigation, including students, teachers and administrators.</p><p>"I knew there would be a lot of people, but I was surprised by the number of people stepping up and providing information," he said.</p><p>Radzilowski said forensic evidence gathered by detectives might surprise people. He declined to elaborate.</p><p>Frazier, who also works as a parent liaison at the school, was placed on paid leave Feb. 8, a day after Bradenton police launched an investigation. </p><p>A Manatee High alumnus who went on to play football for the University of Florida, he has declined comment. His attorney, Edwin Mulock, said Friday that Frazier is the subject of a "witch hunt."</p><p>The police began investigating after allegations surfaced that Frazier had groped a girl, sent inappropriate text messages to students and was seen with girls sitting in his lap in his office at school. </p><p>Among those who spoke to police are Barclay and Margaret Kirkland, Bradenton dentists who said they saw Frazier acting inappropriately at Manatee High weightlifting meets. Margaret Kirkland is an accomplished weightlifter who owns a number of world records.</p><p>The Kirklands said it was common to see Frazier, who coached the weightlifting team from 2006-2010, rubbing up against girls on the team during meets.</p><p>"This was not only pressing your body, but it was stroking some girl," Barclay Kirkland said. "It was constantly. It was all the time."</p><p>"Everyone witnessed it," Margaret Kirkland said. "Everyone saw it. We would make comments to each other. We went to all the meets and we saw how he acted there and thought, 'Wow.'"</p><p>Barclay Kirkland said he is allowing his name to be made public even though he thinks there will be a price — "consequences that you'll never even know."</p><p>"I guarantee you there are people who won't come here if our name was put in the paper against Frazier. There's no question about that," he said. "But a person has to stand up for what's right. We're not talking about someone touching a girl one time. We're talking about a continued-for-years culture and the surrounding people — and the people above — were all supporting this or ignoring this, however you want to say it."</p><p>Frazier's attorney said Friday that Frazier did not speak directly to detectives.</p><p>"It's all rumors and innuendos and little young high school girls going off on the social media with rumors and so forth," Mulock said. "I haven't heard anything criminal."</p><p>Radzilowski said it should take about two weeks for the State Attorney's Office to review the case and decide whether to file charges.</p><p>The chief also said that the police could be asked by the state to circle back to certain witnesses.</p><p>The school district began an internal investigation through its Office of Professional Standards in November. </p><p>District officials placed Frazier on paid administrative leave on Nov. 15.</p><p>That same day, district investigator Debra Horne interviewed a half-dozen employees about reports that Frazier had inappropriate interactions with at least four female students.</p><p>Frazier returned to work on Nov. 16, reportedly before Horne had interviewed any students or parents, and coached a playoff game against St. Petersburg Northeast that night.</p><p>The district revisited the case on Jan. 9, when the mother of a female student delivered a letter to the office of Manatee High Principal Don Sauer alleging inappropriate behavior by Frazier. </p><p>In the letter, the girl said that Frazier had groped her upper thigh and buttocks, asked her to send him nude pictures of her, frequently texted her and met her in a park at night. </p><p>The Herald-Tribune is not identifying the girl because of the nature of the allegations.</p><p>The girl's mother said that she has no regrets about coming forward to the school district and the police.</p><p>"This needs to be dealt with. It needs to be stopped," she said. "It needs to be brought to the forefront."</p><p>It does not appear that anyone from the school district called the state abuse hotline or the police about the allegations, as required by law when employees suspect sexual contact.</p><p>Horne requested a transfer to an assistant principal position in late January, and assistant superintendent Scott Martin took over the investigation.</p><p>Bradenton police launched their investigation Feb. 7 — prompted, Radzilowski said, by a Herald-Tribune story about the allegations against Frazier. The State Attorney's Office Crimes Against Children unit joined the investigation soon after. Manatee school administrators again put Frazier on paid leave on Feb. 8.</p><p>School Board Chairwoman Karen Carpenter released a statement that day, asking the public to "reserve judgment until all of the facts are known and the investigation is complete."</p><p>Radzilowski could not say Friday whether the State Attorney's Office would pursue district employees who may have violated mandated reporting laws.</p><p>"If there are no violations," he said, "then the School Board can look and see if there are any actions they deem inappropriate."</p>